Whatever name you answer, as a person,

 

has a direct bearing on your destiny; your

 

name gives meaning to your destiny. This

 

explains why it was necessary for God to

 

change the names of certain characters in

 

the Bible in line with their destinies in God.

 

A good example is Abraham, who was

 

formerly called Abram. Abram meant exalted father or

 

assumed father; one who was regarded as a father, even

 

though he didn’t have children.

 

However, one day, God spoke to him and said, "…behold,

 

my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of

 

many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called

 

Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of

 

many nations have I made thee" (Genesis 17:4-5). He

 

believed God, and immediately started answering the

 

name "Abraham," meaning ‘a father of many nations.’

 

Another example is Jacob; he was named Jacob at birth

 

because when he was born, he held on to his brother’s

 

heel. Jacob means swindler or deceiver; and true to his

 

name, he obtained his brother’s birthright through

 

deceit, with the aid of his mother. However, when he

 

encountered the Angel of God’s presence and asked to

 

be blessed, the Angel wouldn’t bless him until his name

 

was changed from Jacob (the swindler) to Israel, a

 

prince with God (Genesis 32:28); thus was his destiny

 

transformed for good.

 

Before Peter came to Jesus, he answered the name

 

Simon, meaning a reed shaken by the wind, unstable. As

 

Simon, he wasn’t consistent. One day Jesus said to him,

 

"And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, (Greek:

 

Petros) and upon this rock (Greek: Petra) I will build my

 

church…" (Matthew 16:18). "Petros" means a little rock

 

that’s founded on a greater hidden rock (Petra), not

 

just a stone; signifying stability and consistency.

 

If the name you’ve been answering isn’t consistent with

 

the Word of God, you’ve got to change it, because your

 

name is your destiny. It makes no difference that you’ve

 

answered the name all your life; if you find that its

 

meaning isn’t consistent with the revelation of who you

 

are as a new creation in Christ, you must respond to

 

God’s Word and change it as an act of faith. When you

 

do, your new name will be recorded in heaven, and the

 

destiny of the former one will be cancelled.